Union undergarment.



L. D. MARSH.

UNION UNDERGARMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.20,1913.

1,1 13,803, Patented 0cb.13,1914.

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XJMM Lester D. QF Sh, wyikym WWMW UNITED strni ns PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER. D. MARSH, 0F MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO YALE KNITTING COMPANY, OF MALIDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS" rmron UNDERGARMENT'.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct, 13, 1914.

' Application filed November 20,1913. Serial No. 802,158.

the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention relates to union underwear and particularly to union underwear of that class having the so-called closed crotch.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel union suit of this type having provision. whereby the posterior opening can be opened to a greater or less extent as de sired and which will be comfortable for the wearer.

I will first describe the preferred embodiment of my invention and will then point out the novel features of the invention in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1- is a front view of a union suit embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a rear view; Figs. 3 and 4 show the two flap members detached from the garment; Fig. 5 is a bot-tomplan view of the crotch of the garment with the posterior opening closed; Fig. 6 is a similar view with the posterior opening open.

The garment herein shown has the body 1 which may have any suitable or usual construction, it being opened down the front to substantially the point 2 as usual in un derwear of this class; The garment is also provided with the usual posterior opening which is closed by two flap members. These flap members are of special shape designed to produce the closed crotch effect. In the present embodiment of the invent on the front opening and the posterior opening are separate from each other, the garment being permanently closed at the lower end of the front opening, as at 2.

The posterior opening is closed by an inner fiap member 3 and an outer flap memher '1, these memberspreferably having the shape shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively.

Each flap member extends from a point at or above the waist "at the top of the posterior opening to a point in the leg below the crotch. The inner flap member 3 s formed at its lower end with the V-shaped or pointed leg portion 5, and it also is pro- Yidcd with a lateral extension 6. The edge 7 of the inner flap is sewed to the body of the garment along the line 8, the leg portion 5 being situated at the inner side of the garment leg below the crotch. The edge 9 of the leg portion 5 and the lower edge 28 of the extension 6 are sewed to the log of the garment, the outer end of the edge and the extension 6 extending substantially to the point 2, and the edge 10 of the extension 6 and body portion of the flap being free and constituting one edge of the posterior opening. The outer flap 4 is also formed at its lower end with a V-shaped leg portion 11 whichis situated in the leg 12 of the garment below the crotch, the edge 14 of said inner flap being sewed to the garment body, as shown in the drawings. This outer flap is also formed with the V-shaped notch 16 and with the extension 15 at its lower edge.

The outer flap 4 is considerably wider than the inner flap 3, and when it is sewed into the garment the leg portion 11 occupies the leg 12 of the garment below the crotch, and the extensionf15 is turned forwardly through the crotch and the edge 17 of the notch 16 is sewed to the body of the garment, as at 18, thereby to form a continuation of the seam 19 by which .the leg portion 11 is sewed into the garment. This extension 15 has considerable lateral Width and is of such dimensions that when it is sewed into the garment the corner 20 there of comes approximately to the,bottom of the front opening 2 and'the extension 15 closes the crotch of the garment and overlies the upper part of the leg portion 5 of the inner flap member. The outer flap member 4 is of awidth to cover entirely the body portion of the innerflap, as shown in Fig. 2, and the edge of the outer flap member is buttoned to the body of the garment, as shown at 21. The corner 2?- of the extension 15- is also detach ably secured to the leg 13 of the garment below the crotch thereof by a button 23, this extension 15 serving to completely close the crotch and to hold it closed in all positions ofthe wearer.

One advantage of this construction is that the posteriorppeningof the garment can be opened to a greater or less extent by unbuttoning simply the button 21 or both the ment to be used conveniently by different sizes of persons. y

In the manufacture of union underwear, it is customary for manufacturers to make a predetermined number of sizes of garments and any tWo sizes vary from each other both in length and chest measure. A tall and slim person is obliged to get a garment which is long enough for him even though the chest measure thereof is too large, while a short person must get a garment which has a sufficient chest measure even though it is too long. A person wearing a garment which has plenty of length can secure suflicient extension of posterior opening by simply unbuttoning the button 21, While a person Wearing a garment that fits snugly as to its length can secure an added extent of posterior opening by also ,unbuttoning the button 23, a I I Another advantage :of this construction wherein the outer flapmember is made with the extension 15 that is sewed into the garment as above described, is that a seam 1 9 is presented extending clear to the crotch of the garment which assists in dressing the private parts to the left, as is desirable in garments for men.

Having fully described my invention, I I

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is A union undergarment comprising a body having a posterioropening, an inner and an outer flap member for closing said opening, the inner flap member having a relatively narrow body provided at its'lo'wer end with a leg portion that is sewed into the leg of the garment and a narrow inwardly directed extension that extends only to the crotch, and the outer flap member having a Sullieiently wide body to cover the body of the inner flap and provided at its lower end with leg portion and with a lateral extension separated from the leg portion proper by a notch, whichextension is brought forward through the crotch, the adjacent meeting edges of the leg portion and extension being sewed to the leg of the garment by a continuous seam that extends up the leg of the garment to a point on the front of the gal inent above the crotch, said lateral extension overlying and being detaehably secured to the upper part of the leg portion of the innor flap.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresenceof two subscribing witnesses.

I LEsTER MARSH. lVitnesses V FREDERICK A. Tnxnan'r, THOMAS J. DRUMMOND. 

